Machines adapted for applying wrappers



April 22, 1958 A. c. HOLLIS 2,831,303

MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 16, 1954 10Sheets-Sheet 1 B1 ven tor Albert Char/as fia/lz's By his Attorney April1958 A. c. HOLLlS MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 16.1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ewen tor Albert (/zar/es f/ol/z's if; hisAttorney A ril 22, 1958 A. c. HOLLIS MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYINGWRAPPERS Filed'Dec. 16. 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 /2l 's Attorn A ril 22,1958 A. c. HOLLIS MACHINES ADAPTED FOR' APPLYING 'WRAPPERS Filed Dec.16. 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Alba/t (Vzaries [fa/[1's By hisAttorney April 22, 1958 A. c. HOLLIS 2,831,303 MACHINESADAPTED'FORAPPLYING WRAPPERS v Filed Dec. 16. 1954 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Inven tor Albert C/zarlas H'o/lz's 55/ his Attorney A ril 22, 1958 A. c.HOLLIS 2,831,303

MACHINES ADAP'I'ED FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 16, 1954 10Shegts-Sheet 7 Inventor Albert C/zar/es 170/1119 53/ [11's jttorney Aril 22, 1958 A. c. HOLLIS 2,331,303

MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 16, 1954 1osheets-sheet s art- :16.

In ven tor Albert Charles/7015s By his Attor/ze April 22, 1958 A. c.HOLLIS 2,831,303

MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 16, 1954 10Sheets-Sheet 9 Jig. 2r.

Ihventor Albert (bar/es balzz's By 121's Attorney April 22, 1958 A.clHOLLIS MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYING WRAPPERS Filed Dec. 16. 1954 10Sheets-Sheet 1O 2.5 a 8 5% i= .wsi E Inventor A/erb C/zczr/es ffo/Zz'sBy lzzs Attorney United States Patent MACHINES ADAPTED FOR APPLYINGWRAPPERS Albert Charles Hollis, Watford, England, assignor to B. U.Supplies & Machinery Company Limited, Leicester, England This inventionis concerned with improvements in or relating to machines adapted forapplying wrappers and is especially but not exclusively concerned withmachines adapted for applying wrappers to small quantifies of loosebiscuits.

At the present time there is a demand for small packets of biscuits, say4-6 ozs. and manufacturers have sold these small quantities wrapped intransparent foil providing packets having eye-appeal and in which thecustomer can see the biscuits. Biscuit manufacturers naturally wish toapply the foil to the biscuits, in the production of such packets, bymachine, but biscuits customarily have two characteristics which makethem awkward to handle by machine, viz., (i) lack of uniformity in shapeand size even amongst a number of biscuits nominally all of the sameshape and size, a characteristic which is pronounced in biscuits of thecream sandwich type, and (ii) lack of resistance to disfigurement, e. g.by crushing, when subjected to pressure by metal machine parts. Thesecharacteristics become prominent when it is desired to apply atransparent foil to a small quantity of biscuits by machine since it isusually desired that the foil shall be applied tightly around thebiscuits, to prevent relative movement between individual biscuits andto improve the appearance of the packet, but if the machine is adjustedto apply the foil tightly to an undersize biscuit such adjustment maywell cause undue pressureto be put upon an oversize biscuit, resultingin crushing which will be visible through the foil and spoil the appealof the packet.

One of the various objects of the present invention is to provide animproved machine adapted for applying a wrapper to a small quantity ofloose biscuits and in the operation of which due regard is paid to thecustomary characteristics of biscuits as indicated above.

Another of the various objects of the present invention is to provide animproved machine which will apply a Wrapper tightly to an article of theshape of a rectangular paarllelepiped regardless, within limits, of theprecise dimensions of the article.

A machine is hereinafter described in detail to illustrate the inventionby way of example. This illustrative machine comprises a centralhorizontal table on to which a wrapper of transparent foil is fed in theoperation of the machine, and two groups of mechanism respectively atopposite sides of the table.

Each group of mechanism comprises a carrier member mounted for turningmovement about an axis, an arm pivoted to the carrier member, and asupporting bar mounted on the arm. Resilient means in the form of aspring interconnects the carrier member and the arm and tends to turnthe arm about its pivot relative to the carrier member and so increasethe distance of the supporting bar from said axis. Increase in suchdistance is checked by a band of flexible, comparatively inextensible,sheet material which is connected to the supporting bar and passes overone edge of the table, the axis about which the respective carriermember turns being adjacent this edge of the table. There are thus twobands of flexible sheet material and each is kept taut, in the operationof the machine, by a spring.

In the operation of the machine articles, e. g. groups of loosebiscuits, are transferred by a transfer arm one by one from a rotaryturntable and placed upon a wrapper upon the central horizontal table.The carrier members are then turned in opposite directions to swing thebands of flexible material up at opposite sides of the article, applyingthe wrapper tightly to the article at opposite sides thereof. Wherearticles to be wrapped vary from one another in horizontal cross-sectionthe bands will flex, and yield against the action of the springs, withpivotal movement of the arms relative to the carrier mem-' bers, toaccommodate such variation.

Next the supporting bars movetowards one another over the top of thearticle, the bands flexing further and again yielding against the actionof the springs inaccordance with the precise shape of the article, andthe bars then move downwards on top of the article one after another topress opposite end portions of the wrapper downwards against the top ofthe article in overlapping relation; As will be seen, the bars move inpaths determined at least in part by the shape of the article to bewrapped and the bands flex at localities also determined by said shape;the article is subjected to the pressure of the bands which is yieldingonly and crushing of the work guarded against.

While opposite end portions of the wrapper are held in overlappingrelation by the bands of flexible material the end portions are sealedtogether by heat.

The bars are then swung downwards to bring the hands into horizontalpositions, allowing the wrapped article to be pushed off the table intoend folding mechanism.

The above and other of the various objects of the present invention willbecome more clear from the following description, to be read withreference to the accompanying drawings, of the said illustratviemachine; it will be realised that this illustrative machine has beenselected for description by way of example and not of limitation of theinvention.

in the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the illustrative machine with certain partsbroken away to reveal the mechanism;

Figure 2 is a plan view of 'the illustrative machine;

Figure 3 is a view, partly in section of a feed plate and transfermechanism as incorporated in the illustrative machine;

Figure 3A is a view in section along the line IIlA-IIIA in Figure 3,showing a detail of the transfer mechanism;

Figure 4 is a plan view of certain parts shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view, partly in section, along the line VV in Figure3; v A

Figure 6 is a view, partly in section, of certain of the parts shown inFigure l; I

Figure 7 is a front view of folding devices fitted in the illustrativemachine; I

Figure 8 is a view of a heat sealing device;

Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 are side views of different stages of operationof web folding devices as incorporated in the illustrative machine;

Figures 13 and 14 are side views of a cam mechanism;

Figure 15 is a front view of a pusher arm and cam mechanismcorresponding to Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a side view of an end folding mechanism;

Figures 17 and 18 are plan views of end folding devices in two stages ofoperation;

Figure 19 is a timing diagram ot'the various mechanisms incorporated inthe illustrative machine;

Figures 20, 21 are side views of an alternative end folding device intwo stages of its operation.

3. The illustrative machine comprises a main framework 2 (Fi r hi pp pin pa t of th ma.- chine and drives therefor. The machine has a maindriving shaft 4 which is belt driven from a motor 5 (Figure 2) and twocam shafts 6, 8 which are chain driven from the shaft 4, both in a 1:1ratio.

I In the operation of the machine, articles to be wrapped are placed byhand in pockets 1% (Figures 1 and Z) of a rotary feed mechanism 12. Thismechanism consists of a circular base plate 14 rigidly fixed by fourpillars 16 to the top of a hollow vertical shaft 18, which is attachedto the framework 2 by a horizontal arm 20. The shaft 18 has supportedinside it a vertical feed table driving shaft 2.4 which is preventedfrom moving downwards by a collar which rests on a bearing positionedtowards the upper end of the shaft 18. A driving pulley 26 is attachedto the lower end of the shaft 24. The upper part of the shaft 24 passesthrough a hole in the base plate 14, and has rigidly attached to itparallel to and concentric with the base plate 14 the rotary feed plate28. The pulley 26 is driven from a pulley 30 on the shaft 4 by a belt31; a pair of tensioning pulleys one of which is shown at 52 (Figure 2)are resiliently attached to the arm 2%, and serve to maintain thetension of the belt when it is required to drive thepulley 26, whileallowing the belt to slacken when the pulley 26 is prevented fromrotating, as will be described later.

Attached equidistantly around the outer circumference of the feed plate23 by angle pieces 34 (Figure 3) are the feed pockets it of which thereare twelve. The pockets 10 are rectangular in horizontal cross-sectionand are open at top and bottom. A slot 36 (Figure l) is provided in eachpocket to allow for easy removal of any article if necessary. Thepockets i l) have outwardly flared top edges to facilitate the placingof articles therein. The feed plate 28 is smaller than the base plate14, so that articles placed in the pockets 10 rest on the surface of thebase plate 14.

The base plate 14 has a rectangular gap 42 (Figure 2) cut in itscircumference. Two jaw blades 44, 46 (Figure 4) pivoted at 47 upon theplate 14 and geared together by gears 49 are situated under this gap,and are so arranged that they are normally kept closed by a spring 48. ABowden cable 50 is attached to the jaw blade 44,

and is actuated by a cam lever 51 (Figure 2) operated In the operationof by a cam 52 on the camshaft 6. the machine the cam 52 depresses thelever 51, and the Bowden cable pulls the jaw blade 44 clockwise againstthe spring 48 and, because of the gears 49, 49 the jaw blade 46 willmove similarly in the other direction, the gap 42 being thus uncovered.

The feed plate 28 is rotated step by step in an anticlockwise directionin the operation of the machine, one step for each cycle. Such rotationis controlled by an arm 54 (Figure 4) which carries a stop 53 arrangedto engage each pocket It) in succession and arrest rotation.

The arm 54 lies adjacent to the gap 42 and is mounted on a verticalspindle 63 which passes through the base plate 14. Attached to the lowerend of the spindle 63 is a lever 59, pivoted to a link 61 which isitself pivoted to a solenoid bar 57. A micro switch 55 is attached tothe framework 2 in such a position that at one point in the cycle, i. e.between the closing of the jaws 44, 46 and their subsequent reopening,it is contacted by a transfer arm operating cam lever 74, which, byclosing the switch, activates the solenoid 56, and thus by causing thebar 57 to be drawn into the solenoid serves, through the lever 59 andlink 61 to rotate the arm 54 clockwise. This movement, which is againsta light spring. .65 and is restricted by stops, moves the stop 53 to aninoperative position. The contact is made by the cam" lever 74 for sucha brief period that the arm 54 returns to its original position afterone only feed pocket 19 has passed it.

The operation of the feed mechanism 12 is as follows. A pocket 10containing an article to be wrapped rotates station.

'until it abuts against the stop 53. While this stop preent furth r ro aon h belt 1. Slips on h pull y The article which was previously held inthe pocket 10 by the base plate 14 is now resting on the jaw blades 44,46 which are closed across the gap 42. Under the action of the cam 52 asdescribed previously the jaw blades 44, 46 open, and the article fallsinto a framework of a transfer mechanism 58 (Figure 3), which removes itby a method to be described later, to a centre seaming Meanwhile the jawblades 44, 46 are allowed to close and the stop 53 moves out of the waymomentarily to allow the empty pocket to pass, and then returns to abutagainst the next (full) pocket; thus the feed plate 28 rotates onetwelfth of a complete rotation and the next pocket is brought over thegap 42.

pillar 33 attached to the base plate 14 carries hinged to it a trip bar35. This has attached to it a microswitch 37, fitted with a trip lever39. An end part of the trip bar 35 is bent downwardly and then upwardlyinto roughly the shape of a V, and the bar is so shaped and situatedthat it rides over the feed pockets 10 as they rotate intermittentlywith the feed plate 28. If an empty pocket passes under the bar 35, theV-shaped portion drops into the pocket, and the trip lever 3) contactsan innermost (i. e. furthest from the feed wheel circumference) edge ofthe pocket and operates the microswitch 37". The switch 37 is connectedto an overload trip in a motor starting switch. In normal operationWhere the pockets are full the V-shaped portion of 35 rides over the topof the article in the pocket and the trip lever 39 thus rides clear. Theparts described thus stop the machine whenever an empty pocket passesunder the trip bar 35.

The transfer mechanism 58 is constructed as follows (Figures 3 and 5). Ahollow shaft 62 is rotatably supported on another cantilever hollowshaft 64, and is prevented from moving axially by collars 66. To theshaft 62 are attached two rectangular blocks 68, 7t) and a sprocketwheel 72. Over the sprocket wheel 72 passes a chain of which one end isattached to a spring 73, itself attached at its other end to theframework 2, and the other end to the cam lever 74 which is operatedupon by a cam 76 on the cam shaft 8 (Figure 6). The blocks 63, 70 haveattached to them two parallel shafts 78, to the ends of which is fixed aU-shaped box member 80, the member 86 having two bosses 81 one fixed toeach of the shafts 78. Rotatably mounted on each shaft 78 is a swiveltube 82, which is restrained from axial movement by one of the bosses 81at one end of the tube 82 (henceforth called the upper end) and by oneof the blocks 68, 70 at the other, lower, end. At its upper end eachtube 82 has attached to it an L-shaped member 84, such that a base part85 of the L lies perpendicular to the swivel tube, and an arm 86 is anupward extension parallel to the tube. A supporting framework is thusjoined by the two members 84 and the member the two arms 86 togetherform one side of the framework, the member 84) the other three sides andthe parts of members 84 the base of the framework. The member 80 has asomewhat flared top edge to allow for the easy entry of articles to bewrapped. Perpendicularly to the lower end of one of the tubes 82 isattached a lever 37 which is linked by a crosspiece 90 to a similar butslightly longer lever 38 attached to the lower end of the other swiveltube. This linkage is so arranged that the two tubes 82 rotate togetherin opposite directions, and by doing so may cause the arms 86 to moveoutwardly away from each other thus opening one side of the framework.

A plate 91 attached to the block 68 has attached to it the sheath of aBowden cable 92, the wire of which passes through a coil spring 94 andis attached to the end of the lever 88. The cable 92 passes looselythrough the shaft 64 and at its other end is attached to a cam lever 96(Figure I) acted on by a cam 98 on the shaft 8 and it will be understoodthat as the cam 98 is rotated so the arms 86 are caused to moveoutwardly away from each other.

The operation of the transfer mechanism 58 is as follows. The article isdeposited as described above in the framework while the shafts 78 are ina vertical position. The cam 76 then operates on the lever 74 andthrough the chain causes the shaft 62 to rotate until the shafts 78 andtubes 82 have been brought into a horizontal position: the framework isthen immediately above the centre seam forming station and the articleis resting on the arms 86, 86. The cam 98, operating on the cam lever 96and hence on the levers 87, 88, through the Bowden cable 92, causes thetubes 82 to rotate, and thus the arms 86 to move away from each otherand deposit the article on a table 324 described hereinafter. The cam 76then allows the spring 73 to reassert itself and thus the transfermechanism 58 is brought back into a vertical position until it restsagainst a rubber locating stop 102 (Figure 3) attached to the undersideof the base plate 14 on the inner edge of the gap 42; the arms 86 areallowed to close as the mechanism moves into a vertical position.

The cam 76 is an eccentrically mounted circular disc which actspositively on the lever 74 to cause the downward movement of thetransfer mechanism 58. On the upward movement the lever follows the camuntil the transfer mechanism 58 is against the stop 102. To preventexcessive strain on the mechanism from the spring 73 trying to rotate itstill further the cam lever 74 is at this point brought up against astationary stop 77 and the cam rides free of the lever until the latteris re-engaged during the next cycle when the transfer mechanism 58 isabout to be brought again into the horizontal position.

The article is now resting on the centre seam forming station on top ofa piece of cut web 101 (Figure 9) which has been previously placed thereby the mechanism and procedure now to be described (Figure 6) and actsas a wrapper. Web 105 is supplied from a roll 104 (Figure 1) which ismounted on a freely rotatable shaft 106 by means of two toothed conicallocating and securing members 108, which are adjustably fixed to theshaft by large knurled headed set screws 109. The shaft is supported atits ends by ball bearings 110 which rest in grooves 111 in arms 112which are extensions of the framework 2. Also attached to the shaft 106is a wide flanged pulley wheel 114 over which passes a canvas band 116supporting a weight 118. From the roll 104 the web runs under a jockeyroll 120, which is freely rotatable and is supported by arms 122 freelyhinged to the framework 2 at 124. The web then passes over anotherfreely rotatable roll 126, which is supported between the two arms 112.These rolls 120, 126 have broad flanges 130 (Figure 2) on them tocontrol the edge of the web 105. From the roll 126 the web passesbetween a rubber covered stop 132 (Figure 6) and a stop plate 134. Thestop 132 is attached to an upwardly extending arm 136 which is freelyhinged about a horizontal spindle 138 which is fixed to the framework 2,and it rests on the web under its own weight. The plate 134 prevents thestop arm 136 from hanging vertically and the two together act as a oneway feed control. The web 105 can feed forward freely, the stop 132riding up under the frictional force between it and the web: if the webhas a tendency to move in a rearward direction the frictional forcebetween it and the stop 132 pulls the latter downwards onto the plate134, the web being gripped tightly, and any further movement beingprevented. From the one way feed control the web passes between upperand lower feed rolls 140, 142. These are similar in size andconstruction and are covered with a rubbery material 141, and both havegear wheels 144 the framework 2. The shaft 148 extends clear of theframework 2 at one side of the machine,.and has a sprocket'wheel 150attached to this extension; this wheel is driven by a chain drive off alarge sprocket wheel 152 on the shaft 4. Thus when the machine is inoperation the feed roll 142 is rotating continuously, and as long as thetwo gears 144 are enmeshed the roll 140 will also be in rotation. Theroll 140 is supported in bearings in two short levers 154 (Figure 6)which are hinged at 156 on the arms 112 and held rigidly together by atie rod 158. A spring 159 (Figure 2) attached to'one end of this tie rodand also to the framework 2 urges the roll 140 towards the roll 142. Acam 160 (Figure 6) attached to the shaft 8 actuates a cam lever 162.Attached to one end of this lever and constrained to move in anapproximately vertical direction is a rod 164 which abuts onto a flatnear one end of the tie rod 158. The cam 160 has a slot 161 cut in it,in which is screwed a replaceable cam piece 163. Theoperating surface ofthe cam is made up of two arcs of constant but different radius: the arcof lesser radius extends from the leading edge 155 of the slot to a step165,'the arc of greater radius from the step to the trailing edge 157 ofthe slot. When a follower on the cam lever 162 rides on the latter areof the cam, no feed takes place as the spring pressure between the feedrolls 140, 142 is relieved: when the follower rides on the former are ofthe cam, the rolls are sprung together and gripping the web feed itforward. The replaceable cam piece 163 allows alteration in the lengthof feed, by making it possible to alter, within the limits of the widthof the slot 161 the position in which feed of the web ceases owing tothe aforementioned follower being forced to rise.

When the feed rolls 140, 142 are separated they will no longer grip theweb, which will therefore have a tendency to move backwards under theweight of the jockey roll 120, this roll resting on the web under itsown weight. This backward movement is prevented by the stop 132 asdescribed above. Any tendency for the jockey roll 120 to pull the webforward off the roll 104 is counteracted by the canvas band 116 andweight 118 which act as a friction brake on the pulley wheel 114. Theweb 105 is thus maintained continually at a slight tension. The timingof the feed with respect to the cycle of operations of the machine aswell as the amount of web fed, is controlled by the cam 160.

A bar 172 (Figure 6) of rectangular cross section is rigidly supportedacross the framework 2 of the machine forward of the feed rolls 140,142. Attached to the bar 172 are two horizontal parallel plates 166, 168which extend across the greater part of the width of the machine, theplate 168 being vertically above the plate 166, and separated from it bya narrow gap which is maintained uniform by spacing pieces (not shown).Rearward edges of the plates 166, 168 are level with each other, and aretapered to allow them to be introduced between the feed rolls 140, 142without touching the rolls but approaching closely to the point ofcontact of the rolls and the web.

If desired both plates may be made capable of slight horizontaladjustment. The lower plate 166 is a little longer than the upper one168, and thus extends slightly further forward (i. e. to the left inFigure 6) providing a forward extension which serves as a stationaryblade 170 for web cutting mechanism. The bar 172 has attached to it ateach end next to the framework 2 two vertical brass plates 174, whichproject above and below it and form guideways for a knife carriage. Thecarriage consists of a rectangular framework comprising a horizontalcross bar 178, to which a knife is attached, and whose ends run betweenthe guide plates 174, four vertical parallel bars 182 which are attachedto the cross bar 178, two near each end, and which have each a verticalsurface in sliding contact with one of the guide plates 174, and whichpass on either side of the bar 172, and a lower cross bar 134, which isattached to the four vertical bars the guide plates 174. The variousrubbing surfaces be-' tween the members of the knife carriage on the onehand and the supporting bar 172 and guide plates 174' on the other areso arranged that relative movement in the vertical direction, within thelimits of the construction, is free. A rod 186, attached to the bar 184by a block 185 is attached at its other end to a cam lever 138 actu- 3ated by a cam 190 on the cam shaft 8. Two springs 192 urge the bar 184toward the bar 172. The cam 1963 is thus capable of causing the knife180 to descend and cut the web, and the springs 192 will urge it upwardsout of the way the cutting action being completed. The knife 139 is setat a slight angle to the cutting edge of the blade 170, thus giving ascissor-like action to the cut.

The web feeding action is thus, in outline, as follows. The web 105passes between the rolls 148 142, between the plates 166, 168 andfinishes level with the lower blade 170. At the required moment the twofeed rolls 149, 142 are allowed by the cam 166 to approach one another.The requisite amount of web is fed forward between the knife blades ontothe centre seam forming station and the feed rolls are then separated.The cam 190 then urges the knife 1811 downward, the web is severed, andrests as required on the centre seam forming station.

The machine comprises centre seaming mechanism which is supported by twotransverse bars 318, 318 (Figure 2) across which are fixedlongitudinally two end blocks 326), 320. Two web folding devices F, F(Figures 9-12) form the seaming mechanism and are disposed respectivelyat front and back of a fixed transverse horizontal table 324 (Figure 6)fastened across the blocks 320, 320; the action of the front device Fwhich acts to fold the leading portion of the wrapper 101 round anarticle 1 will now be described (Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12); the actionand components of the other device F are similar and corresponding partsare indicated in the figures by primed numerals.

The operation of the machine will be described with reference to thewrapping of articles, each of the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped,of size 1 by 1 /2" by 331 these being of such a size as to fit looselyin one of the pockets 10 and in the member 80.

An axle 326 (Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12) rotatably mounted in the twoblocks 320 has a cantilever end on which is supported a sprocket wheel328 (Figures 2 and 7) and an arm 330 (Figures 9-12). A chain 329(Figure 1) passes over the sprocket wheel 328 and has one end i attachedto a cam lever 332, which is: urged by a spring 335 against a cam 334 onthe shaft 6. The other end of the chain is attached to a coil spring 336fastened to the main framework 2. A lever 338 is pivotally mounted onthe arm 330 and is urged toward straight line relationship with it by aspring 346. At one end the lever 338 has fixed thereto a horizontallyextending transverse rod 342 which in turn supports another rod 344,parallel to it, by means of two small rotatable arms 346. A stop 348 isadjustably mounted on the rod 342 and is arranged to restrict themovement of the left hand one of the arms 346. An endless flexible andinextensible canvas band 354 passes round the rod 344, over a bar 356which is fixed between the blocks 320, and round a bar 352 which issituated below the table. This bar is capable of vertical movement onunthreaded extensions of two vertical screws 35%, 350 (Figure 6) whichpass through the bars 32d, and is prevented from moving upwards byshoulders on the screws, and held against downward movement by tensionin the band 354, such tension being maintained by the spring 346. Thebar 356 acts as a pivot about which the band turns during the operationof the machine.

A cut wrapper 101 and an article l are placed centrally on the table 324by the previously described mechanisms 8 and processes with the largeface of the article 1 in contact with the wrapper 101. At this stage theband 354 lies horizontally at front and rear of the table, as shown inFigure 9. The shaft 326 is then caused to rotate by the cam 334 actingthrough the cam lever 332, chain 329 and sprocket wheel 328 as describedabove, which, causing rotation of the arm 330 brings the band 354 andvhence the wrapper 131 lying on it against the vertical front face of theartcle, the position being as shown in Figure 10. Further rotation ofthe shaft 326 causes relative angular motion of the members 338, 330against the spring 348, and part of the band'is brought by the rod 344over the top of the article folding the cut wrapper down as shown inFigures 11 and 12.

The web folding device P which operates on the trailing portion of thecut wrapper 101 is arranged to operate in a similar fashion, with theexception that the folding at the rear of the article is completedbefore that at the front (Figure 11). The cam 334 has a dwell on itwhich keeps the folding device F in the position shown in Figure 11while the cam 334' causes the device F to operate in one continuousmovement. This ensures that the leading edge of the wrapper 101 isfolded over the trailing edge thereof.

In the machine described, the spring 335 is stronger than the spring 336so that as the cam 334 rotates and lifts the lever 332 the spring 336operates to move the shaft 326 anticlockwise (viewing Figure 9) whereaswhen the cam 334 allows the lever 332 to be lowered the shaft 326 isturned clockwise by the spring 335. The spring. 335 is effectivelystronger than the spring 340 so that a position (like that of Figure 12)is reached, with the rod 344 holding the band 354 down on top of thewrapper 161 on top of the article, regardless, within a small range, ofthe height of the article, the left hand one of the arms 346 becomingdisengaged from the stop 348. As will be seen, the band 354 flexes attwo localities, viz. localities adjacent to the bottom front edge of thearticle and adjacent to the top front edge, the precise position of thesecond locality varying with the actual height ofthe article.

In the open position as shown in Figure 9 the guide 358 pushes the band354' slightly upwards. When web is fed forwards over the centre seamingstation this srrrall rise prevents the leading edge of the web frombecoming caught between the band 354 and the rear edge of. the table324.

When the folding devices F, F are in the position shown in Figure 12 acentre seam sealer 360 (Figure 12) (Figures 7 and 8) descends betweenthem, and, resting on top of the wrapper encircling the article seals.it. The sealer 360 is mounted on a horizontal transverse shaft 362(Figure 7), which is supported on an arm 364 (Fig ure 8) fixed to asleeve 366 rotatable about a shaft 368 which is fixed to the mainframework 2 of the machine.

The sleeve 366 has attached to it a block 370. A cam 372 (Figure l) onthe shaft 6 has a cam lever 374 urged against it by a spring (notshown). Pivotally attached to the lever 374 is a substantially verticallink 376 (Figure 8) whose other end is pivotally attached to asubstantially horizontal arm 378. The arm 378 is able to retate aboutthe shaft 368 and has attached to it and projecting transversely from ita pin 380 against which the block 370 rests under the weight of the arm364 and sealer 360. A spring 382 ensures that the block 370 and pin 380normally remain in engagement. Rotation of the cam 372 thus, by movementof the pin 380, will allow the sealer 368 to descend, and also can raiseit positively. On the sealer 360 striking the top of the article, thepin 38% will continue to move under the influence of the cam 372, andonly the effect of the spring 382 and the weight of the sealer 360 urgeit against the wrapper: thus approximately the same pressure is obtainedwhatever the size of the article. The sealer 360 itself comprises aplate 384 between which and a cover plate 386 8 are secured sealingmembers 388 of L-shaped cross section and which are capable of limitedvertical movement between the plates 384, 3815. A hinged cross piece 390(Figure 7) rests loosely across these two sealing members 388 so thattheir vertical movements are not independent. Thus small irre ularitiesin the contour of the article to be sealed can be allowed for. Athermostatically controlled heating element 392 attached to the plate384 heats the sealing members 388 by conduction.

Attached to the framework 2 of the machine by blocks 194 (Figures 1 and2) are two parallel horizontal slide rods 1%, one vertically above theother. An H-shaped slide block 198 is hushed onto these and thus canslide in a horizontal direction backwards and forwards. A downwardsextending operating lever 202 is hinged near its upper end to the crossbar of the slide block 198 through a spindle 294 and a block 206, and ishinged to the framework 2 near its lower end at 208. A crank 210 on thecamshaft 6 has attached to it an adjustable link 212 consisting of twoparallel rods 214, passing through two blocks 216, 218, being lengthwiseadjustable in these blocks and secured in them by set screws: one ofthese blocks, 216, is hinged to the crank 210, the other, 218, toanother block 228 which is attached to the lever 282, and is capable ofadjustment lengthwise along that lever, being fastened to it by a setscrew. It will be seen that as the cam shaft 6 rotates, the crank 210acting through the link 212 and the lever 282 will cause the block 198to move backwards and forwards along the rods 196, the amount and timingof the movement being controllable within limits by adjustment of thelink 212 and movement of the block 220.

Between the upwardly projecting arms of the block 198 is hinged a pushersupporting arm 222 (Figures 2 and 13-15), which projects towards thecentre of the machine, and is prevented from falling below thehorizontal position by a stop 224 attached to one arm of the block 220(Figure 15). A block 226 extends perpendicularly down- Wards from thearm 222, and has attached to it a spindle 234 (Figures 13 and 14). 'Thespindle 234 has freely pivoted thereon an arm 228 on the end of which isa chamfered cam roll 230. Also attached to the block 226 is a stop 232which restricts pivotal movement of the arm 228 about the spindle 234.The roll 230 rests on a cam way 236 which has inclined portions 237, 233(Figure 13) joined by a horizontal portion 239. When the block 188 is inits rearmost position the roll 230 rests on the cam way as shown inFigure 13, and as the block 198 moves forwards the roll 238 trails alongthe cam way 236 and the end of the arm 222 follows a horizontal path.Trailing along the portion 239 the cam lever 228 is almost horizontal,but along the portion 238 is allowed to fall back under its own weightto a vertical position. The block 198 now begins to move rearwardly. Theroll 230 comes up against the incline 238 and is pushed backwards untilthe arm 228 abuts against the stop 232. The roll 230 then rides up thecam way 236 and travels along the cam way as shown in Figure 14, alongthe portion 238 the arm 222 is being moved upwardly about its hingedjoint with the block 198, along the portion 239 it is carried in anupwardly inclined position and along the portion 237 it is let down intoa horizontal position again. The end of the pusher arm thus describes aclosed path.

A horizontal arm 241) at the end of the arm 222 supports a rod 242,parallel to the arm 222. The rod 242 has two split blocks 244, 244clamped to it, each of which supports a depending rod 246, 246.Pivotally mounted on these rods are pushing and rear tucking members248, 258. Small projections at the rear of these members are joined by alight spring 252 (Figure 18) which thus causes them normally to adopt anopen position shown in Figure 17.

When the article 1 is in position with the wrapper 101 on the centreseaming station, as previously described, the devices, F, F are openedout so that the bands 354,

354' are horizontal, the arm 222 is in its most forward position, andthe sealer 368 is in a retired position. As the devices F, F wrap thewrapper 101 round the article in the way described, the sealer 360descends and eventually contacts the wrapper 101 between the rods 344,344' when the wrapping action is complete. The sealer 360 and thedevices F, F now remain stationary .as the arm 222 travels in a rearwarddirection and is lifted over the centre seaming station by the action ofthe roll 230. As the arm 222 passes over the centre seaming station thefolding devices F, F open out into their horizontal position; when thisis completed the arm 222 descends into a horizontal position behind thearticle so that the members 248, 250 are just above the now horizontalportion of the band 354'. As the members 248, 250 move forward thesealer 360 retires, and inner end portions 249 of the members 248, 250engage the rear face of the article and carry it forward. The article isnow encircled by a tube of web, sealed at the top, and extending beyondthe article at each end. The article is carried forward off the table324, over the forward band 354 and on to a horizontal platform 257(Figures 2 and 17). As it moves forward the leading face of the articlecomes into contact with the rear face of the previous article wrapped,and the additional pressure causes the members 248, 250 to pivot abouttheir supports inwardly against the spring 252 thus forming rear tucks,i. e. tucks in the rear parts of the extensions of the web. The forwardmovement brings the front parts of the extensions of the web intocontact with forward tucking and folding members 258, 260, which as thearticle moves forward form forward tucks (Figure 18). The movement ofthe members 248, 250 carries them in between the members 258, 260 sothat when the members 248, 250 retire, the members 258, 260 secure therear tucks against springing outwards. As the article is being carriedforward, the transfer mechanism 58, as previously describedplacesanother article on the centre seaming station on top of a piece ofsevered web, and the wrapping cycle recommences. The operation of themachine pushes a succession of articles one by one on to the platform257 and between the two members 258, 260, and hence articles are pushedone by one into end folding mechanism now to be described.

Two cross bars 254, 256 (Figure 2) rigidly attached to the framework 2support the platform 257. Arranged in pairs on either side of thisplatform are six end tucking and folding members 258, 260, 262, 264,266, 268. The three members 258, 262, 266 are rigidly fixed to the lefthand side of the platform. On the right hand side, the member 260 isrigidly attached to a base plate 270 by a shaft 276. The plate 270 hasfixed to it three parallel pillars, each consisting of a screw 278 onwhich a sleeve 280 is secured by a nut 282 and a washer 284. The sleevesabut against the base plate 270 and pass slidably through holes in alongitudinal supporting bar 286; a spring 288 on each of the sleevesurges the base plate 270 away from the bar 286, the washers 284 forminga limit stop to movement in this direction. Thus the base plate 270 andhence the member 260 attached to it is capable of limited movementagainst the springs 288 in a direction substantially perpendicular tothe plane of the base plate. The members 264, 268 are similarly mountedfor movement to the right against the action of springs.

The supporting bar 286 has attached to it two angle pieces 290 whichrest on the two cross bars 254, 256. Screws pass through holes inhorizontal portions of each of these angle pieces, and through slots 292in each of the cross bars 254, 256, and are secured by nuts on theunderside; thus by the slackening of these nuts the bar 286 and all thatit supports is capable of horizontal adjustment to alter the distancebetween the members 258, 262, 266 on the one hand and 260, 264, 268 onthe other. The spring mounting of these members is provided to ensurethat the members are pressed up against the articles, regardless ofsmall variations in size.

asansos The members 258, 260 are outwardly flared to receive the articleand also to make the forward end tuck. They are arranged so that thehorizontal sideways extensions of the wrapper may pass undisturbed overand under them. Lower end flaps are then folded upward by the action ofa guideway formed between the members 262 and 258 on the left hand sideand 264 and 260 (Figure 16) on the right hand side: upper end flaps arefolded downwards by similar guideways formed between members 262 and 266on the left and 264 and 268 on the right. While the lower flaps arebeing folded upwards the article is resiliently forced downwards by leafsprings 294, 294. The folding members 266 and 268 have horizontalflanges extending inwardly and backwardly, and as the upper flaps arebeing folded down the article is forced upwards against these flanges byleaf springs 296, 298. The spring 296 is attached to the platform 257 at309, and the spring 298 to a small plate 301 which is attached to thebar 256, and being adjustable widthwise is normally maintained as closeas possible to and parallel with member 268. Rear ends of the springs296, 298 are free and pass under the platform, so that an article canslide smoothly onto them. The action of the springs 296, 298 isreinforced by two more leaf springs 392, attached to a bar 304underneath the platform 257. The springs 302 bear up through theplatform 257 under the springs 296, 298. The effect of the verticalspring pressure during the end folding operations is to allowconsiderable variation in the height of the article while maintaining aneat and tight end fold, without requiring any adjustment.

End sealers 306, 308 (Figure 2) are mounted forward of the members 266,268 on arms 310, 312. The sealers 306, 308 have their ends bent to forma flat sealing portion, the edges of which are rounded, which portionsare arranged to bear on the articles as they pass. The sealing portionsare heated by conduction from heating elements 314. The arm 312 ishinged at 316 against a spring 317, and being attached to the bar 236 ismoved with that bar on adjustment for various sizes of article. The arm310 is rigidly fixed to the bar 256. When the machine is in correctadjustment the article is a little wider than the space between the twosealing plates and so sealing is carried out under pressure from thespring 317.

As described above, the articles are pushed one by one in a continuousline past the end folding members, having successively the lower flapfolded upwards, the upper flap folded downwards and the ends sealed.Being pushed out one by one from the sealers 306, 308, the articles maybe allowed to drop into a suitable container or removed on a conveyor ifdesired.

In a modified version of the web folding device (Figures 20, 21) a sheetof flexible and inextensible canvas 394 is attached to a table 400 andalso to a transverse supporting bar 395. The bar 395 is fixed to an arm396 which is slidably mounted in a member 398, and which is urgedlengthwise in a direction so as to tension the sheet 394 by a spring 3%.The member 398 is attached to a shaft 399 which can be rotated by meanssimilar to those previously described for effecting the rotation of theshaft 326.

An article 1 is placed on the wrapper 101 on the table 4-30 by mechanismand processes previously described: the sheet 394 is held in asubstantially horizontal position. On rotation of the shaft 399 the arm396 is moved so that the sheet 394- applies the wrapper 101 to thevertical face of the article i, and then, flexing at the upper edge ofthe article, presses the wrapper 191 down on to the upper face of thearticle (Figure 21).

it will be understood that two such devices will be required to performa complete wrap and that the sealing and end folding operations followas before.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A machine for applying wrappers to articles, comprising a horizontalsupport upon which a wrapper may be positioned, cooperating wrappingmechanisms oppositely disposed relatively to the support, each of saidmechanisms comprising a pivot below the support, an arm mounted on thepivot for arcuate movement heightwise of the support, a lever pivotallymounted upon the arm, a flexible hand one end of which is secured to theframe of the machine beneath the support, the other end of the bandbeing secured to the lever, and resilient means for rotating the leverin a direction to maintain the band taut, together with means forrotating both arms upwardly and inwardly relatively to the support tocause the bands progressively to bend the Wrapper into close engagementwith the sides and top of an article located upon the wrapper.

2. A machine for applying wrappers to articles, comprising a horizontalsupport upon which a wrapper may be positioned, cooperating wrappingmechanisms oppositely disposed relatively to the support, each of saidmechanisms comprising a pivot below the support, an arm mounted on thepivot for arcuate movement heightwise of the support, a lever pivotallymounted upon the arm, a flexible hand one end of which is secured to theframe of the machine beneath the support, the other end of the bandbeing secured to the lever, and resilient means for rotating the leverin a direction to maintain the band taut, together with means forrotating both arms upwardly and inwardly relatively to the support tocause the bands progressively to bend the wrapper into close engagementwith the sides and top of an article located upon the wrapper, the meansfor moving the arms being constructed and arranged to move one of thearms in advance of the other thus to eifect an overlapping of the endsof the wrapper on the top of the article.

3. A machine for applying wrappers to articles, comprising a horizontalsupport upon which a wrapper may be positioned, cooperating wrappingmechanisms oppositely disposed relatively to the support, each of saidmechanisms comprising a pivot below the support, an arm mounted on thepivot for arcuate movement heightwise of the support, a lever pivotallymounted upon the arm, a flexible hand one end of which is secured to theframe of the machine beneath the support, the other end of the bandbeing secured to the lever, resilient means for rotating the lever in adirection to maintain the baud taut, together with means for rotatingboth arms upwardly and inwardly relatively to the support to cause thebands progressively to bend the wrapper into close engagement with thesides and top of an article located upon the wrapper, the means formoving the arms being constructed and arranged to move one of the armsin advance of the other thus to effect an overlapping of the ends of thewrapper on the top of the article, and means for sealing the overlappingends of the wrapper.

4. A machine for applying wrappers to articles, comprising a horizontalsupport upon which a wrapper may be positioned, a bar located beneaththe support, a pivot below the support, an arm mounted on the pivot forarcuate movement heightwise of the plane of the support, a lever pivotedon the arm, a flexible hand, one end of which is secured to the frame ofthe machine beneath the support, the band having a portion extendingover the bar and outwardly from beneath the support, the other end ofthe band being secured to the lever, resilient means for rotating thelever relatively to the arm in a direction to maintain the band taut,and means for rotating the arm about its pivot upwardly and inwardly ofthe support to cause the band to bend the wrapper progressively aboutthe side and top of an article located upon the wrapper.

5. A machine for applying wrappers to articles, comprising a horizontalsupport upon which a wrapper may be positioned, a bar located beneaththe support, an arm pivotally mounted below the plane of the support forarcuate movement heightwise of the support, a lever pivotally mounted onthe arm and having an end portion normally disposed outwardly of thesupport, a flexible band of sheet References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fischer Ian. 30, 1912 I Bronander Apr. 30,1929 Heilman Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No 2 831 303 April 22, 1958 Albert Charles Hollis Itis hereby certified. that @rror appiaars in the above nuxubarGfi patentrequiring correction. and that the said Letters Patant should read ascorrected bslowo In the heading to the print-ad spaoifioation batw eonlines .6

and '7 insert m Claims priority, application Great Britain December 18;,1953 Signed and. sealed this 16th day of Saptembar 1958;,

KARL Zia AEINE ROBERT C. WATSON Attesting Officer Comisaioner ofPatentsz

